Time for Ray Watts to finally do the right thing by UAB football coach Bill Clark

Updated on Jun 03, 2015 at 01:49 PM CDT

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark reacts to a made field goal in the fourth quarter at Legion Field Saturday, August 30, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Al.com/Photo/ Hal Yeager)

UAB coach Bill Clark watches from the sideline in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Middle Tennessee won 34-22. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

UAB Football coach Bill Clark waves to supporters as he walks to the meeting with Dr. Ray Watts. UAB President Ray Watts announced the shut down of the UAB Football program today. Angry students and UAB supporters marched to the football building to support the players. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com).

Coach Bill Clark leaves the meeting. UAB President Ray Watts announced the shut down of the UAB Football program today. Angry students and UAB supporters marched to the football building to support the players. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com)

UAB head football coach Bill Clark leaves the meeting with UAB president Ray Watts as players and coaches hug behind him in the doorway. UAB President Ray Watts announced the shut down of the UAB Football program today. Angry students and UAB supporters marched to the football building to support the players. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com

UAB coach Bill Clark gives a thumbs up to the crowd of supporters. UAB President Ray Watts announced the shut down of the UAB Football program today. Angry students and UAB supporters marched to the football building to support the players. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark is shown during a NCAA college football game against Marshall at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. (Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark is shown during a NCAA college football game against Marshall at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. (Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com)

UAB head coach Bill Clark, left, argues for a pass interference call against Marshall during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/John Amis)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark reacts after offensive pass interference is called on UAB during a two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter of a NCAA college football game at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. (Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark is shown in the first quarter of a NCAA college football game against Marahall at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. (Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark is shown in the first quarter of a NCAA college football game against Marahall at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. (Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark is shown in the first quarter of a NCAA college football game against Marahall at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. (Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark congratulates UAB defensive lineman Diaheem Watkins (46) as he reacts to his defense's play in the second half in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Photo/al.com/Hal Yeager)
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UAB Head Coach Bill Clark reacts to his defense's play in the second half in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Photo/al.com/Hal Yeager)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark watches his team warm up before their NCAA college football game with Louisiana Tech, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Photo/al.com/Hal Yeager)

UAB coach Bill Clark watches during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark reacts to a play in the second half of an NCAA college football game at Legion Field, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Al.com/Hal Yeager)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark in the first half of an NCAA college football game at Legion Field, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Al.com/Hal Yeager)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark in the second half of UAB's 41-14 win of an NCAA college football game at Legion Field, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (al.com/ Hal Yeager)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark begs for an explanation on a call in the first half at Legion Field, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala.(Hal Yeager/al.com )

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark reacts to a call in the second half of UAB's 41-14 win of an NCAA college football game at Legion Field, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (al.com/ Hal Yeager)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark like the play of hi team in the first half of an NCAA college football game at Legion Field, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (al.com/ Hal Yeager)

UAB head Coach Bill Clark gathers his team midfield before their game with Alabama A&M in an NCAA college football game at Legion Field, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (al.com/ Hal Yeager)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark reacts to a made field goal in the fourth quarter at Legion Field Saturday, August 30, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Al.com/Photo/ Hal Yeager)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark in the first half at LegionField Saturday, August 30, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Al.com/Photo/ Hal Yeager)

UAB Head Coach Bill Clark leads his team on to the field at Legion Field Saturday, August 30, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Al.com/Photo/ Hal Yeager)

It was the man who'll be more vital than anyone else to making the rebirth of UAB football work.

It was UAB coach
Bill Clark
.

His presence at that press conference would've completely changed the mood in the room from skepticism to optimism.

His absence just raises more questions.

Not bringing Clark to what should've been a celebration was just the latest in a long series of PR blunders by UAB President
Ray Watts
and his administration. Matter of fact, the coach's name was barely mentioned.

In response to a direct question about who's going to be the coach, all Watts said was, "Coach Bill Clark is our coach."

That was great news, but that was it. Period. End of sentence. Watts didn't elaborate, which means he didn't say any of the things he should've said.

He didn't say how fortunate UAB is that Clark would even consider returning to the job after he'd been burned by Watts. He didn't say how Clark's return gives everyone hope that the program will be up and running and winning in the shortest amount of time possible because no one's better equipped to do this job.

Like a lot of Watts' answers, this one in particular left a lot to be desired.

To not see Clark there in that room, to not hear Watts say more about the coach, raises more legitimate questions about the sincerity of the president in bringing back football and giving it every honest chance to succeed.

Clark himself has kept a low profile this week. He didn't appear at the press conference or at a Tuesday night celebration of UAB supporters. He hasn't said much of anything in public beyond an encouraging statement released by his agents.

Hopefully, Watts and company are negotiating with Clark and his reps, and by negotiating, I mean the UAB president should be down on his hands and knees thanking the coach for his willingness to take on this massive rebuilding effort created by the president's epic fail in killing the program in the first place.

Watts should be asking Clark what it'll take for him to get the job done, and the president should promise Clark what he needs in writing.

Offering Clark nothing more than a three-year contract originally was an insult, but he wanted this job so much he was willing to take the risk. Offering him anything less than a long-term deal now, with serious security involved, would be just as insulting given the long, hard road ahead.

For those of us still skeptical about how sincere Watts is about reinstating football, there's one way he could calm some of the concern. He could do the right thing by Clark because there's no better person to rebuild UAB football the right way.